As long as Tampa plays like Tampa, you can kiss that fat ass goodbye
- UsernameUnknown

Tampa and Boston are going to be very good the next few years for sure.

Tampa and Boston are going to be very good the next few years for sure.
- Scabeh

But but but.. Bostons core is old
I'm not sure how much I believe this narrative, but I hope it's as true as some think on here

I think Babs would line-match with Kadri on that assignment, don't you?
- UsernameUnknown

Yeah but theres another coach, the Pens would put Crosby on against him every chance they can.

Last change doesn't guarantee your matchups either if you try to avoid matchups to that degree your players don't get the ice time they want and it messes up the flow of the lines you're rolling.

If Matthews line is more or less due up and it's an offensive face-off Pittsburgh will just send the Crosby line out and what do you do? Skip Matthews shift?

Kadri would take the defensive zone starts against Crosby whenever they have the change but still Matthews would be seeing a whole lot of Crosby.

his shot hasnt looked that heavy for a long time. remember when he used to snipe a goal every other game? he still kept scoring around the net but his shot has seemed off overall. could be wrong. we will see what they say once the season is done.

im guessing he has an arm, shoulder, or wrist issue or similar
- daeth

Matthews : Shoulder
Gardiner : Brain
Zaitsev : Was actually replaced in the offseason by Mike Komisarek and the team has been suppressing the information all year.

He would, and having home ice advantage he'd be able to get that matchup for the first two games.
- Archaic

Until he got suspended three games for calling Crosby a crybaby

Matthews : Shoulder
Gardiner : Brain
Zaitsev : Was actually replaced in the offseason by Mike Komisarek and the team has been suppressing the information all year.
- AdamFrench

Matthews : Shoulder
Gardiner : Brain
Zaitsev : Was actually replaced in the offseason by Mike Komisarek and the team has been suppressing the information all year.
- AdamFrench

zaitsev just has a case of suckitis. gardiner is good except when he isn't.

Matthews : Shoulder
Gardiner : Brain
Zaitsev : Was actually replaced in the offseason by Mike Komisarek and the team has been suppressing the information all year.
- AdamFrench

his shot hasnt looked that heavy for a long time. remember when he used to snipe a goal every other game? he still kept scoring around the net but his shot has seemed off overall. could be wrong. we will see what they say once the season is done.

im guessing he has an arm, shoulder, or wrist issue or similar
- daeth

He was out with shoulder late in the year so maybe. Even still I have my doubts he sent a rocket high glove in game 3. He just has had a stick blade in his way every time he has a shooting chance. The one time he had a little open ice to rip one he goes bar down from a bad angle.

Yeah but theres another coach, the Pens would put Crosby on against him every chance they can.

Last change doesn't guarantee your matchups either if you try to avoid matchups to that degree your players don't get the ice time they want and it messes up the flow of the lines you're rolling.

If Matthews line is more or less due up and it's an offensive face-off Pittsburgh will just send the Crosby line out and what do you do? Skip Matthews shift?

Kadri would take the defensive zone starts against Crosby whenever they have the change but still Matthews would be seeing a whole lot of Crosby.
- Blazed

I think you're overthinking it. Matthews hasn't seen much of line 1 of Boston since Babs decided he didn't want them to match up.

I wonder if that is it because if it's not, I worry he is not a big game player we all thought he was.

He's still young but....
- LeafMan

I think it's a bit premature to say he is not a big game player, he is only 20... Historically, guys like Yzerman and Modano took some time too.

I think you're overthinking it. Matthews hasn't seen much of line 1 of Boston since Babs decided he didn't want them to match up.
- UsernameUnknown

Marner seems desperate to get the puck.
Matthews and Nylander do not, and they don't

I wonder if Babcock is going to make any dramatic line changes or if he's going to keep the status quo. Should be interesting.

Marner seems desperate to get the puck.
Matthews and Nylander do not, and they don't
- Rang

It's a weird crazy concept that the guys who want to win puck battles—really want to win them—actually do.

I wonder if Babcock is going to make any dramatic line changes or if he's going to keep the status quo. Should be interesting.
- UsernameUnknown

Komarov on all four lines.

Komarov on all four lines.
- AdamFrench

Well, we wouldn't get scored on....
But we would never score, either.
0-0 for eternity

It's a weird crazy concept that the guys who want to win puck battles—really want to win them—actually do.
- UsernameUnknown

See Brown, Connor

But but but.. Bostons core is old
I'm not sure how much I believe this narrative, but I hope it's as true as some think on here
- UsernameUnknown

Its definitely true, their core is old. They do have some good young players, but id expect a regression in the next few years.

I wonder if Babcock is going to make any dramatic line changes or if he's going to keep the status quo. Should be interesting.
- UsernameUnknown

it's pretty clear, Leafs need Marincin...

I think you're overthinking it. Matthews hasn't seen much of line 1 of Boston since Babs decided he didn't want them to match up.
- UsernameUnknown

I'm definitely not over thinking it. The back breaking second goal last night was an O-zone face-off where Babs had last change and Pastrnak and Bergeron were sitting out there waiting, and they burned them.

Last change or not Matthews would see a lot of Crosby.

Yeah but theres another coach, the Pens would put Crosby on against him every chance they can.

Last change doesn't guarantee your matchups either if you try to avoid matchups to that degree your players don't get the ice time they want and it messes up the flow of the lines you're rolling.

If Matthews line is more or less due up and it's an offensive face-off Pittsburgh will just send the Crosby line out and what do you do? Skip Matthews shift?

Kadri would take the defensive zone starts against Crosby whenever they have the change but still Matthews would be seeing a whole lot of Crosby.
- Blazed

I disagree, look how Babcock has gotten Pleks line against Marchand the last two games very easily.

I disagree, look how Babcock has gotten Pleks line against Marchand the last two games very easily.
- Archaic

home vs away

I disagree, look how Babcock has gotten Pleks line against Marchand the last two games very easily.
- Archaic

More than 1 line plays against a line in a night. It's impossible to keep line on line all night, there's changes on the fly o-zone starts and d-zone starts.

The back breaking 2-1 Pastrnak goal was a Matthews O-zone face-off and despite not having last change Cassidy had the Pastrnak line out there waiting and they burned Matthews.

More than 1 line plays against a line in a night. It's impossible to keep line on line all night, there's changes on the fly o-zone starts and d-zone starts.

The back breaking 2-1 Pastrnak goal was a Matthews O-zone face-off and despite not having last change Cassidy had the Pastrnak line out there waiting and they burned Matthews.
- Blazed

Matthews has 1pt after 4 games (1g) and he is -4 Boston has spayed him

More than 1 line plays against a line in a night. It's impossible to keep line on line all night, there's changes on the fly o-zone starts and d-zone starts.

The back breaking 2-1 Pastrnak goal was a Matthews O-zone face-off and despite not having last change Cassidy had the Pastrnak line out there waiting and they burned Matthews.
- Blazed

Matthews had 0 to do with that goal except losing the draw. Yes it's impossible to guarantee never having a line face another line, but Babs did a good job of keeping Matthews away from Pasta and Toucan Sam. It's not as big a deal as your suggesting. Not even close.